Army Chief Denies Receiving Any Letter from Imran Khan

ISLAMABAD: Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir on Thursday denied receiving any letter from former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, dismissing the notion that he would engage with such correspondence.

Speaking informally to the media, the army chief, apparently referring to Khan’s ‘open letters’ from prison, stated that even if he were to receive one, he would not read it. “If I receive any such letter, I will forward it to the prime minister,” he added.

General Munir emphasized that Pakistan was on a path of progress and development, reiterating, “Pakistan is moving forward, and Pakistan has to move forward.”

Imran Khan’s Series of Open Letters

The remarks from the army chief came a day after Imran Khan, who has been imprisoned since August 2023 on multiple charges ranging from corruption to terrorism, sent a third open letter to General Munir, according to his lawyer.

In his latest letter, the PTI founder reiterated allegations of election rigging, claiming that “money launderers” had been brought into power through manipulated polls. His lawyer, Faisal Chaudhry, stated that Khan’s letter raised concerns about the “preference given to the minority over the majority” through alleged electoral fraud.

Previously, Khan had written two other letters to the army chief on February 3 and February 8, arguing that all democratic avenues had been blocked. He alleged a widening disconnect between the military and the public and outlined six points suggesting ways to address the situation.

These letters gained significance as the PTI had recently ended negotiations with the PML-N-led government, demanding the formation of judicial commissions to investigate the events of May 9 and November 24-27, as well as the release of “all political prisoners,” including Khan himself.